What's new

The Spurs Youth Thread - 2017/2018

GetSpurredOn

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2006
5,022
8,922
All those years of crowbarring right footers in at LB, due to a dearth of natural left footed players, and suddenly we have three all around a similar age.
Tsaroulla was getting rave reviews last season. More of a LWB than outright LB, but that suits us.
Brown just seems to take the step up in his stride. Also capable of playing LCB in a three, which is ideal.
And then Bennetts seems to have kicked on massively from last year, starting this season in form at LWB so far, then LW today.

Exciting times. I do agree about Eyoma too, I think both him and Brown could be ideal players in Poch's setup due to their ability to play fullback or as the wider CB's in a three, occupying the roles Toby and Jan do so well given their own experiences at fullback. Tanganga then holding it together centrally.

Whiteman
Eyoma, Tanganga, Brown
Hinds, Skipp, TOB, Bennetts
Edwards, Shashoua/Roles
Sterling​
 

tot

Active Member
Aug 31, 2012
21
148
it would be a true shame if edwards didnt get his chance next tuesday. sissoko doing better through the middle will hopefully end playing him on the right, which just so happens to be where edwards plays. its all lined up for him to play, much like mason got his chance around this time, in that competition.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
75 minutes into the U19 game against Dortmund. Can't really remember being so impressed with a performance since the Kane/Prittchard/Bentaleb/Veljkovic/Smith NextGen days.

This was a real joy to watch wasn't it? Some really good individual performances all over the pitch, but harnessed into a really competitive and cohesive collective performance.

I know it's not the priority, individual development is, but It was so nice to watch us play like a team at that level again, play a good brand of football, apply ourselves well collectively both with and without the ball. Nice to watch us be so comfortable with the ball, facilitated by good movement off the ball. We thoroughly dominated every aspect of this game.

I really like Brown and Tanganga every time I see them. Skipp had another impressive game, he's a really nice combination of tenacity and composure, Edwards worked hard, never overplayed or showboated for the sake of it, and gilded it with two goals, both after quality runs. Austin didn't have much to do but every game I've seen him I've really liked him. Bennetts scored a great solo goal. TOB was a bit quiet, but played well enough within the team dynamics. Sterling's still a bit limited for me, but he works hard at it. Roles looks like a trier with a bit of ability, first proper look at him really.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
I can't be bothered to check but I'm fairly certain a lot of these players played in this competition last year and the level looked beyond them. Not this season though. Maybe the experience of playing in the competition last year really helped.

Our issue last year was that the good age group were very young and being mixed with a weak older age group. So it was disjointed sprinkled with some relatively poor players

The team actually got stronger after the subs with shashoua and roles coming on. Awesome team. My MOTM is edwards closely followed by skipp and then pretty much everyone else put in a good shift to say the least. Bennetts and brown were awesome; tanganga is looking like a player above this level; austin was very calm, very vocal and very good; the subs all had some nice touches. In fact the only player who was a bit below his usual level was TOB and he still worked hard all game. Well pleased with that effort.

Does eyoma normally play at RB? He looks more like a CB?

He has played CB through academy and I prefer him at CB however last year due to the number of CBs we have he found himself playing RB and now he plays there for England but I prefer him at CB excellent on the ball.

I have commented a lot on this age group and I always say this has been our most talented group. The Onomah, KWP, Winks, Oduwa age group was one of my favourites but there wasn't quality all over the pitch and certainly not this depth. The best players of each group are on a similar level, but the current group has strength and depth all over.

3 quality CBs, with Dinzeyi (England international and Marsh, good player as back up). LB 2 England players and Tsaroulla who was excellent last year. I'd prefer Hinds RB.

We even have 3 quality keepers to choose between.

Then strenght and depth all through midfield, and can play Edwards with either Roles or Shashoua as an AM. Then 2 England internationals as options up front. So much talent in this age group, hope a few come through.

Best thing about televising these games is it means all fans get to see how good they are, and it isn't 3 people accused of overrating them all the time. OS really should start streaming more and I'd guarantee you;d see a lot more fans wanting to see them in the first team and more against blocking their pathways.

The current first year group is also quality evidence by the fact that we have kept so many. As someone else said icing would be if we kept Kirby but couldn't keep everyone happy.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
Another former Spurs schoolboy that has won a scholarship somewhere else is Brandon Young-Chambers. He's a first year at Palace although now goes by the name of Brandon Aveiro.

Think he left midway of 14/15 season. I remember watching a Palace PL match and seeing him ball boy in the background so assume he joined then
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
He joins a sizable ex-Spurs contingent: Grant Hall, Steven Caulker, Massimo Luongo, Joe Lumley, Alex Finney, Brandon Adams, Aramide Oteh, Charlie Owens, Chris Paul, Jake Frailing, Nathaniel Orafu & Isaac Pitblado.

We can now also add Stylianides. I wonder which club QPRs players all move onto. Their CM will basically be our UYL midfield from last year. They picked up a lot from our weak age group
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
We can now also add Stylianides. I wonder which club QPRs players all move onto. Their CM will basically be our UYL midfield from last year. They picked up a lot from our weak age group
I'm surprised more of the lower league London clubs don't follow Brentford's lead and shutdown their academies, and concentrate on picking off those players coming out of the Premier League ones. Cheaper, easier, and they'll probably end up with exactly the same results.
 

Spurzinho

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2016
2,512
8,342
We can now also add Stylianides. I wonder which club QPRs players all move onto. Their CM will basically be our UYL midfield from last year. They picked up a lot from our weak age group

They took another one of our lads from the Stylianides/Owens group but one who was released an U16 Michael Anastasiou. I think they released him after his scholarship, I'm not entirely sure.
They also had Channing Campbell-Young with them for a few months after his release from Bolton. So many of our youth products have passed through there in one form or another over the years it would take pages and pages to list them all.

Its not a bad strategy from QPR really. They know we produce professional, well trained, technically competent young footballers who have been schooled in modern styles and systems. They're taking a relatively short gamble that some of these lads just need to mentally or physically mature a bit or maybe just need to be loved and made to feel special after, maybe, being in other's shadows at Spurs. They will still produce their own youngsters but the process won't be on breeding groups of skillful and competent footballers like Spurs. Instead they will be looking to prioritise those utility "natural athletes" that will be able to "do a job" and those rare diamonds that haven't been moulded but just pop up now and again and can be thrust into the limelight and hopefully attract attention from the big clubs, potentially making the club some money in the process.
 

Dharmabum

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2003
8,274
12,242
Does Bennetts normally play wingback because he wasn'tyin this game? In fact, Brown looked decent at fullback in this.

Particularly in Netherlands and Germany it is common to play young players in different positions than their "strong" position to improve the concerning player's overall skills/improve weaknesses.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Can anyone confirm all the youth comps as I've lost track
U23 league
CL youth
Checker trade Cup
FA youth cup
Think there's some international cup as well ?
 

Lemon

End World Debt
Jul 17, 2014
2,436
4,664
Eriksen is 5.10 he is not small, most prem players are big units, mason was 5.10-5.11 not met winks but when you meat the firs team you feel small.

It's rare to see a small player succeed who does not have a tonne of pace, but Edwards has such ability today he was a class above.

Hope the club are giving him high Calcium supplements:

Calcium Supplementation Increases Stature and Bone Mineral Mass of 16- to 18-Year-Old Boys
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 90, Issue 6, 1 June 2005

The effect of calcium carbonate supplementation on bone growth and mineral accretion was studied in 143 boys aged 16–18 yr, randomized to 1000 mg Ca/d or a matching placebo for 13 months. Anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the whole body, lumbar spine, hip, and forearm were performed before, during, and after the intervention. The intervention resulted in greater bone mineral content (BMC) of the whole body (+1.3%, P = 0.02), lumbar spine (+2.5%, P= 0.004), and hip (total +2.3%, P = 0.01; neck +2.4%, P = 0.02; intertrochanter +2.7%, P = 0.01). This was associated with greater height (+0.4%, P = 0.0004, equivalent to 7 mm), lean mass (+1.3%, P = 0.02), and lumbar spine bone area (+1.5%, P = 0.003). The increases in BMC diminished after size adjustment, suggesting that the intervention effect was mediated through an effect on growth. The BMC response at the intertrochanter was greater in subjects with high physical activity (+4.4%, P = 0.05). There were no other significant interactions with physical activity, plasma testosterone, calcium intake, or tablet compliance. We conclude that calcium carbonate supplementation of adolescent boys increased skeletal growth, resulting in greater stature and bone mineral acquisition. Follow-up studies will determine whether this reflects a change in the tempo of growth or an effect on skeletal size that persists into adulthood.

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...um-Supplementation-Increases-Stature-and-Bone

Personally think hydroxide is a better choice, but I'm down with Carbonate for young Marcus, think 3000mg may be appropriate for him if training with first team (at times).
 
Last edited:

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Closest modern day player likeness to Edwards for me is hazard,just the way he moves.frightening how good he could actually be.What he has which is so rare,is that feeling something is gonna happen every time he gets the ball.Thats so rare,there's nobody in our current team,apart from when Kane gets it around the box.That reminds me of gazza so much,was so exciting to watch.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
Closest modern day player likeness to Edwards for me is hazard,just the way he moves.frightening how good he could actually be.What he has which is so rare,is that feeling something is gonna happen every time he gets the ball.Thats so rare,there's nobody in our current team,apart from when Kane gets it around the box.That reminds me of gazza so much,was so exciting to watch.
After watching him against Dortmund, his quality was so impressive. It's a bit like Eriksen, you know when he gets on the ball in the final third something is likely to happen.

The thing he needs to work his ass off is increasing his explosive change of pace over three or four yards, that's what Hazard has that kills defenders. Edwards is never going to be a pure speedster, but it's the change up which will make the difference.
 
Top